Bebilith Armor Destruction overpowered..

[JacktheRabbit]

That makes little if any sense.

Look through the Monster Manual and tell me how many demons or devils you come across that wear armor at all. Bebiliths are supposed to hunt other demons yet their greatest strength is of no use to them since their primary foe as a rule wears no armor.

Well, no ability really is overpowered or underpowered. Mostly it depends on how the DM uses a creature's ability, but it is also important to take the creature into consideration. Bebiliths, the feared demonic entities that even hunt demons themselves, ought to be relatively powerful, even though they have a realatively low CR. Their armor-tearing ability gives them this "strength".

- Cyraneth

 

[mkletch]

The only weirdness with the Belbith's ability is that it is normally impossible to sunder armor (though you can sunder a shield). The surprise factor is really where its strength is.

Most demons of any note have DR of */+2 or worse. A Belbith has 30/+3. Except a Balor using natural attacks, nothing can touch it. Tasty demons...

-Fletch!

 

[dcollins]

What would +5 armor get if it were trying to make a saving throw (as compared to normal armor)? Isn't it based on creator level, which is pretty high for armor that powerful.

A +5 item gets a +9 save bonus. (DMG p. 176, 179, 183).
It's always (caster level)/2 + 2 -- 15th caster level for +5.

 

[Crothian]

It is a nasty ability, but I don't find iut over powered.

 

[hong]

The only weirdness with the Belbith's ability is that it is normally impossible to sunder armor (though you can sunder a shield).

Exactly. Why should a bebilith be able to smash a suit of full plate with a single attack roll, when even a colossal dragon can't?

If you want to make the bebilith scary, give it a Su ability to ignore armour and natural armour bonuses to AC with its attacks. Or give it energy drain. Both of these will ensure it gets lots of respect, without having to resort to a clunky system-breaking mechanic.

 

[Caliban]

Exactly. Why should a bebilith be able to smash a suit of full plate with a single attack roll, when even a colossal dragon can't?

If you want to make the bebilith scary, give it a Su ability to ignore armour and natural armour bonuses to AC with its attacks. Or give it energy drain. Both of these will ensure it gets lots of respect, without having to resort to a clunky system-breaking mechanic.

Why should a CR3 medium size rust monster be able to?

It's just another wierd monster ability.

 

[Destil]

I think Monte Cook noted at some point that a good adventure usualy has a way of causing the players to loose a magic item or two. Given what most adventures typically have for loot, this is very reasonable. (Personaly I try and add a bit more loot worth about as much as whatever is lost to my adventures somplace later, but don't tell them that or the'll start feeding the rust monsters if they get something they don't like).

 

[Destil]

Exactly. Why should a bebilith be able to smash a suit of full plate with a single attack roll, when even a colossal dragon can't?

If you want to make the bebilith scary, give it a Su ability to ignore armour and natural armour bonuses to AC with its attacks. Or give it energy drain. Both of these will ensure it gets lots of respect, without having to resort to a clunky system-breaking mechanic.

The only reason you can't sunder armor is it's not a melee weapon. You can still use strike an object rules. (I don't have MMII, so if it's worded as improved sunder or somesuch well... it's named wrong).

 

[Darkness]

The only reason you can't sunder armor is it's not a melee weapon. You can still use strike an object rules. (I don't have MMII, so if it's worded as improved sunder or somesuch well... it's named wrong).

Bebiliths are in MM1.

Here's a link to the bebilith in the SRD.
(You'll have to scroll a little; it's under "Demon.")

 

[Destil]

Ah, cool, never really noticed them before. Retreavers are more my style, anyway. But, yeah... rules are a bit bad, should deal HP damaeg to armor every round - hardness, now taht I see it.